Closure device



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F9 if u 27 2'3 6 J. M. NEsTlc CLOSURE DEVICE March 27,1962 Filed May 22, 1959 Arron/vex;

March 27, 1962 J. M. NESTIC CLOSURE DEVICE ArroRNEYS ufacturing Company,Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ghio Filed May 22, 1959, Ser. No.815,196 7 Claims. (Cl. 22040) This invention relates to closure devicesfor fluid containers such as the pressure-type radiators of certainengine cooling systems, and relates more particularly to closure devicesof the kind having a safe-removal type of closure cap by which apreliminary venting of the pressure of the container or radiator isachieved to prevent personal injury'due to a too-sudden release ofheated vapor or steam.

Closure caps of the safe-removal type have been proposed heretofore andit has also been recognized that the safe-removal characteristic can beachieved by producing a safety stop position or interruption in theunlocking or disengaging movement of the cap. When this is done atoo-sudden removal of the cap from its associated filler neck is usuallyprevented but, if the operator actuates the cap in a manner to eitheraccidentally or deliberately avoid or violate the safety stop position,the cap may be blown off the neck by the sudden release of the confinedpressure and serious personal injury may result.

As one of its objects, the present invention accordingly provides anovel closure device and cap of the safe-removal type having means forpreventing the cap from being blown off its associated filler neck whenthe safety stop'position is either accidentally or deliberately avoidedor violated during the unlocking or disengaging movement of the cap.

Another object is to provide a novel closure device and cap of thesafe-removal type having safety means for producing a plurality orsuccession of safety stop positions or interruptions in the unlocking ordisengaging movement of the cap, and wherein the feature of such asafety means is obtained without material increase in the complexity ofthe cap or in the manufacturing operations for producing the same.

A further object is to provide a safe removal closure cap of the kindadapted for detachable connection with a filler neck or the like andwherein the interruption-producing and blow-oif preventing meanscomprise elements on the cap body and filler neck adapted for directmutual co-operating engagement in a sequential relation during theunlocking rotation, the elements of the cap preferably being lugelements and the elements of the filler neck preferably being stopelements associated with locking cams or the like.

Still another object is to provide such a safe-removal closure capwherein the cap body has an annular flange and the lug elements compriseattaching lugs and safety lugs located on such flange with the safetylugs offset from the attaching lugs in directions along and around therotation axis of the cap body.

Additionally this invention provides a novel form of such a safe-removalcap wherein the stop elements are surmountably engageable by theattaching lugs and the safety lugs in succession and are carried bylaterally projecting portions of the filler neck, and wherein the safetylugs are hook-shaped and extend beneath such projecting portions.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent in thefollowing detailed description and in the accompanying drawings forminga part of this specification and in which,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a closure device embodying this inventionand showing the cap in its fully locked and pressure-sealing position onits associated filler neck;

3,922,943 Patented Mar. 27, 1962 FIG. 2 is an axial section takenthrough the device on section line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an axial section similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing the capin a pressure-relieving condition and rotative position correspondingwith a first safety stop position or interruption in the unlockingrotation;

FIG. 4 is another such axial section but showing the cap in the rotativeposition corresponding with the second safety stop position orinterruption in the unlocking rotation, and with the cap restrainedagainst blow-off;

FIG. 5 is a larger-scale side elevation showing the cap completelyunlocked and partially removed from the filler neck;

FIG. 6 is a partial side elevation showing the cooperation of one of thesafety lugs of the cap with one of the safety stops of the neck andcorresponding with the cap rotative position shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a transverse axial section taken through the cap body indetached relation and further illustrating the attaching and safetylugs;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the filler neck;

FIG. 9 is an axial section taken through the filler neck on section line9-9 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is an elevational development view of the looking members of thefiller neck and of the cam portions carried thereby.

As representing a preferred embodiment of this invention, FIGS. 1 to 5inclusive show a closure device 10 comprising a tubular member or fillerneck 11 and a closure cap 12 adapted for detachable mounting on suchfiller neck. The closure device 10 can be used on any of various tanksor containers adapted to hold fluid under pressure and is here shown asbeing of a construction intended for use on the radiator of apressure-type cooling system for an internal combustion engine. 7

The filler neck 11 is of a conventional form comprising a substantiallycylindrical member having-laterally or transversely extending externaland internal annular flanges 13 and 14 providing axially spaced outerand inner annual seats 15 and 16. The filler neck 11 is adapted to bemounted on the associated radiator or tank with the axial passage 17thereof communicating with such radiator or tank through the centralopening 18 of the internal flange 14. At a point between the annularseats 15 and 16, the side wall of the filler neck is preferably providedwith a vent and overflow nipple 19 to which a drain pipe 20 is suitablyconnected.

In addition to providing the filler neck 11 with the annular seat 15,the flange 13 also forms a connecting means with which the cap 12co-operates for releasably connecting the latter with the neck. As shownin FIG. 5 and in the development View of FIG. 10, the flange 13 of thefiller neck 11 is provided with circumferentially spaced dependingarcuate locking members 22 and with access openings 23 between theadjacent ends of these locking members. The locking members 22 eachcarry locking elements comprising an inclined locking cam 24 and anadjacent substantially straight portion 25 at the bottom of anassociated horizontal dwell or pressure release notch means.

The locking members 22 also comprise limit stops 26 located at the highends of the locking cams 24 and rotation-arresting safety stops 27located at the low ends of the cams, that is, between the accessopenings 23 and the adjacent ends of the dwell portions 25. The mannerin which portions of the cap 12 cooperate with the access openings 23and with the various portions of the locking members 22 will beexplained hereinafter.

The cap 12 comprises, in general, a cap body 29 and an inner transversemember or diaphragm means associated therewith and here shown ascomprising a single resiliently flexible disk-like diaphragm 30. The cap12 also comprises an inner closure means 31 connected with the cap body29 by an axial stem 32, and a spring means interposed between thediaphragm 30 and the inner closure means and here shown as being ahelical spring 33 coaxially surrounding the stem 32.

The cap body 29 preferably comprises a cup-shaped "member having atransverse top wall 35' and a depending marginal flange or skirt 36. Theflange 36 and the transverse top Wall 35 are here shown as havinglaterally extending portions forming lever elements 37 on the cap bodyfor assisting an operator in manually grasping the same. The cap 12 alsocomprises attaching or looking lugs 38 which are here shown ascomprising inturned portions of the marginal flange 36 of the'cap bodyand which lugs are axially movable through the access openings 23 of thefiller neck 11 for co-operation with the various portions of the lockingmembers 22 in a manner which will appear hereinafter. The-locking lugs38 are somewhat shorter in circumferential length than the'access'openings 23 so as to be axially movable therethrough with asmall clearance between the'ends of the locking lugsand the edges of thelimit stops and safety stops 26 and 27 which are presented toward theaccess openings.

In accordance with this invention, the cap 12 also comprises hook-shapedsafety holding means 39 for co-operation with the locking members 22 forpreventing the cap from being blown off the'neck 11, as will be furtherexplained hereinafter. "The holding means 39 preferably comprises safetylugs 39* carried by the cap body 29 and actuatable by the samemovementsof the cap body 'as those which actuate the attaching or locking lugs38.

The safety lugs 39* are formed by in-turned 'ends of depending armportions 39 of the flange 36. As shown in FIGS. and '7, the armportions'39 are integral projections of the flange 36 and are formed onthe latter adjacent the attaching lugs 38 "so that the safety lugs 39will be offset from the attaching lugs in directions extending botharound'and along the rotation axis of the cap body 29. As is readilyapparent from FIG.'6, the

circumferential spacing ofthe safety lugs 39 from the attaching lugs 38is greater than the circumferential width of the safety stops 27, 'andthe-axial spacing of the safety lugs from the attaching lugs is as greator greater than the axial width of the safety stops.

The stem 32 provides a centering and connecting means for the diaphragm30 and for the inner closure means 31 and is mounted on the cap'body 29substantially cen- 'trally thereof. The stem 32has its outer end securedto the' transverse wall 35 as bybeing riveted thereto. At the lower endthereof, the stem 32'is provided with a head 40.

The inner closure means 31 comprises a cup-shaped hollow member or cage"41 having a transverse top wall 42 through which the stem 32 extendsand which top wall is engageable with the head 40 for preventingseparation of such inner closure means from the cap body 29. The innerclosure means 31 alsocomprises a transverse bottom plate 43 extendingacross the chamber 44'of the cup shaped member 41 and mounted on thelatter by flange or tab means 45 deflected inwardly into an overlyingrelation tothe flared annular lip 46 of such cupshaped member. Themember 41 has one or more openings 47 in the upper portion thereofthrough which the chamber 44 is in communication with the neck passage'17 at all times.

The transverse bottom plate 43 is provided with a depending hollow stemmeans or rivet 48 defining a vent passage 49 extending axiallythroughthis bottom plate and through a gasket 50 lying against the lowerface of such bottom plate. The gasket 50 is retained against the bottomplate 43 by the rivet 48 and has sealing engagement with the innerannular seat 16 of the filler neck when theclosure cap 'is appliedthereto. The connection provided for the bottom plate 43 by the means 45permits the member 41 to rotate relative to the bottom plate, suchvthatthe gasket 50 can remain stationary against the seat 16 and berelatively free of any scufling action.

The inner closure means 31 is axially slidable on the stem 32 of the capbody 29 and is provided with an annular shoulder or spring seat 53 whichis engaged by the lower end of the spring 33. The spring 33 is effectiveon the inner closure means 31 to press the latter against the inner seat16 of the vfiller neck when the cap 12 is applied thereto and alsopresses the central portion of the diaphragm 39 against the centralportion of the cap body 29.

The central portion of the cap body 29 is preferably inwardly offset soas to form a tapered axial boss 55 thereon. The diaphragm 30 preferablyalso has an axially offset central portion 56 defining a shallow recesswhich is held in seating engagement with the tapered boss 55 by thespring 33 for centering, or assisting in centering, the diaphragm in thecap body.

The annular portion of the diaphragm 30, which lies outwardly of thetapered wall portion 56, is preferably of a wavy or corrugatedtransverse shape as shown in the drawings. The peripheral portion of thediaphragm lying outwardly of such corrugated annular portion is asubstantially fiat portion 58 for seating engagement against the outerannular seat 15 of the neck.

The inner closure means 31 is also provided with a check valve 60comprising a valve member 61 and a supporting stem 62 extending throughthe vent passage 49. The stem 62 is provided with a head 63 which islocated in the chamber 44 and is engageable with the upper end of therivet 48 for maintaining the valve member 61 in a suspended relationadjacent the'gasket 50. The valve member 61 is preferably in the formofa dished sheet metal member having an annular rim 64 for sealingengagement with the gasket 50 when this valve member is lifted andpressed against the latter, as shown in FIG. 2, by pressure in theradiator or tank to which the closure device 10 has been attached.

From the construction of the closure device 10 as above described, itwill be seen that the cap 12 can be applied to the filler neck 11 byinserting the inner closure means 31 into the passage 17 of the neck andby successively moving the safety lugs 39 and the attaching lugs 38through the access openings 23. During'this procedure the safety lugs 39are passed through the access openings 23 first and are followed by theattaching lugs 38. The length of the arm portions 39 is such that thesafety lugs 39 will arrive at a position below the safety stops 27before the attaching lugs 38 come into engagement with the upper end ofthe neck 11. This relationship permits an initial clockwise rotation ofthe cap body 29 to move the safety lugs 39 beneath the safety stops 27,after which the attaching lugs 38 can be moved into co-operation withthe locking members 22 by further clockwise rotation of the cap body.

The further clockwise rotation of the cap body 29 and the accompanyingmovement of the attaching lugs 38 into engagement with and along thelocking earns 24, causes the cap 12 to assume a locked position on theneck 11 in which the diaphragm 30 is pressed against the outer annularseat 15 and the gasket 50 of the inner closure means 31 is pressedagainst the inner annular seat 16, as shown in FIG. 2. The fully-lockedfinal rotative position of the cap 12 is with the attaching lugs 38engaged against the limit stops 26 and with the safety lugs 39 lyingbeyond the limit stops, as shown in FIG. 1.

When pressure builds up in the radiator the check valve member 61 islifted and pressed against the gasket 50 as shown in FIG. 2 to close thevent passage 49 and to maintain the radiator in a sealed condition.Whenever the radiator pressure becomes excessive, it lifts the innerclosure member 31 in opposition to the spring 33 thereby causing theseal between the gasket 50 and the inner seat a 16 to be broken and thepressure vented to atmosphere through the pipe 24). When thepressure inthe radiator subsides, such as upon cooling of the radiator, the checkvalve member 61 drops to a suspended open position similar to that shownin FIG. 4, thereby venting the radiator to atmosphere to prevent theoccurrence of a vacuum therein.

' When the cap 12 is rotated in an unlocking or releasingcounterclockwise. direction relative to the filler neck 11,

the attaching lugs 38 are moved in a downhill direction along the cams24 and when they arrive at the pressure releasing or dwell portions 25,the pressure of the diaphragm against the outer seat 15 is relieved andthe sealing engagement of the gasket 50 against the inner seat 16 islikewise relieved. At this time, the cap 12 occupies a position relativeto the filler neck corresponding with that illustrated in FIG. 3, inwhich the pressure of the radiator is being properly and safely relievedand vented to atmosphere either through the open outer end of the neckor through the overflow and drain pipe 20 connected with the nipple 19.

When the unlocking rotation of the cap 12 is carried out in the normaland proper manner, the attaching lugs 33 will always come intoengagement with the safety stops 27 when they arrive at a positionopposite the dwell portions so that the unlocking movement will beinterrupted and the pressure of the radiator safely vented, as explainedabove. If, however, the cap body is forcibly depressed and so maintainedduring the unlocking rotation to cause the attaching lugs 38 to avoid orviolate the protective function of the safety stops 27, the safety lugs39 will still lie beneath the locking members 22 and the tendency of thepressure of the radiator to blow the cap off the filler neck will becounteracted by the resulting hooked engagement of the safety lugs withthe locking members (see FIGS. 4 and 6).

Even though the cap 12 is forcibly held in a depressed position durin gtheiunlocking rotation thereof with the intention of causing theattaching. lugs 38 to avoid the safety stops 27, the unlocking rotationwill necessarily be interrupted by the attaching lugs coming intoengagement with the limit stops 26 as these lugs reach a position ofalignment with the access opening 23. This as sured interruption in theunlocking rotation of the cap 12 locates the safety stops 27 beneath thedwell portions 25 to prevent blow-off, as explained just above.

During the unlocking rotation by which the attaching lugs 38 are causedto move past the safety stops 27, either by an interrupted properunlocking rotation or by a forcibly depressed improper unlockingrotation as described just above, the cap will be axially liftablerelative to the neck 11, either manually or by the action of theconfined radiator pressure, to the position shown in FIG. 6. This alwaysresults in a second assured interruption in the cap removal by thesafety lugs 39 coming into the hooked engagement with the dwell portions25 at points thereof immediately adjacent the safety stops 27, as isalso illustrated in FIG. 6. It will be noted also from FIG. 6 that, inaddition to preventing a direct axial lift-off or blow-off movement ofthe cap upon the locking lugs 38 reaching the access opening 23, thesafety lugs 39 again interrupt the unlocking rotation by theirengagement with the safety stops 27 after the locking lugs have movedoutwardly through the access openings.

To complete the removal of the cap 12 from its FIG. 6 position relativeto the neck 11, it is necessary to again depress the cap to cause thesafety lugs 39 to clear the safety stops 27. The space existing at thistime between the locking lugs 38 and the flange of the neck 11 willpermit this clearing movement, after which, the safety lugs 39 can befreely retracted through the access openings as the cap is lifted offthe neck. The above-explained interruptions provide a delay interval inthe removal of the cap during which the venting of the pressure of theradiator can safely take place.

From the accompanying drawings and the foregoing detailed description itwill now be readily understood that this invention provides novel safetymeans ina closure device of the kind having a safe-removal closure capand by which the cap is restrained from being blown off the tiller neckwhen the function of the safety stops usually provided in such a deviceis either accidentally or deliberately avoided or violated. The safetymeans provided by this inventionsupplements' and cooperates with theusual safety stops so that successive safety stop positions orinterruptions are produced in the unlocking rotation of the cap for anassured proper and safe venting of the confined pressure. Additionallyit will be recognized that the safety means provided by this inventionis obtainable in a closure device of the type here under considerationwith very little increase in the complexity or cost of the device.

Although the closure device of this invention has been illustrated anddescribed herein to a somewhat detailed extent, it will be understood,of course, that the invention is not to be regarded as being limitedcorrespondingly in scope, but includes all changes and modificationscoming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A closure for use on a pressure radiator filler neck or the likehaving a passage, and connecting means comprising circumferentiallyextending axially sloping locking cam means and rotation-arrestingsafety stop means adjacent the unlocking end portions of said cam means;comprising a cap adapted to be applied to said neck and being rotatablethereon in locking and unlocking directions; said cap having transversewall means engageable with the neck to close the same; attaching meanscarried by the cap comprising locking lug means co-operable with saidcam means for attaching and locking the cap on said neck in response tolocking rotation of said cap; said locking lug means being normallyengageable with said stop means during unlocking rotationof the cap toproduce afir st interruption in said unlocking. rotation and establish asafety-stop position of the cap; and holding means carried by the capand engageable with said connecting means to prevent axial lift-off orblow-off disengagement of the cap from the neck when said locking lugmeans is moved past said stop means in avoidance of said firstinterruption; said holding means comprising safety lug means located onthe trailing side of the trailing end portions of said locking lug meanswith respect to the unlocking rotational movement of the latter; saidsafety lu g means lying in a plane spaced from the plane of said lockinglug means in an inward axial direction along the neck passage.

2. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said safety lug means isspaced circumferentially from said trailing end portions of said lockinglug means a greater distance than the circumferential width of saidsafety stop means; said safety lug means being engageable with said stopmeans to produce an assured interruption in the unlocking rotation ofsaid cap.

3. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the axial spacing of saidsafety lug means from said locking lug means is at least as great as theaxial width of said stop means.

4. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the axial spacing of saidsafety lug means from said locking lug means is greater than the axialwidth of said stop means and said axial spacing is of a dimensionalvalue to permit limited axial pressure-relieving separating movement ofsaid transverse wall means away from said neck.

5. A closure device as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting meansof the filler neck has notch means therein between said locking cammeans and said stop means; and wherein said locking lug means isengageable in said notch means upon arrival at said stop means forpressurerelieving separation of said transverse wall means from saidneck during said first interruption; said safety lug means beinghook-shaped and engageable beneath said connecting means for temporarilylimiting axial lift-off or blow-01f movement of saidcap in the directionof said pressure-relieving separation.

ing portions including circumferentially extending andcircumferen'tiallyspaced axially sloping locking cams androtation-arresting-safety stops adjacent the unlocking ends of saidearns; a cap on said neck in detachable co-operation therewithcomprising a cap bo'dyrotatablerelative to the neck in locking andunlocking directions, and transverse means for sealing co-operation withsaid seat means for closing the neck passage; circumferentially spacedlocking lugs on said body and co-operable with said cams during thelocking and unlocking rotation of the body; said locking lugs beingnormally engageable with said stops during unlocking rotation of saidbody for interrupting said unlocking rotation; and safety lugs on saidbody adjacent said locking lugs but spaced axially and circumferentiallyfrom the latter; the axial spacing of said safety lugs from said lockinglugs being in an inward direction along the neck passage, and thecircumferential spacing being on the trailing-side of said locking lugswith respect to the unlocking rotation'of said body; said safety "lugsextending'beneath said connecting portions and being engageable 'withsaid stops for further interrupting said unlocking rotation-of saidbody; the axial spacingof said safety lugs from said locking lugs beinga distance sufficient to' permit pressure relieving separation betweensaid sealingmeansand said-seat means upon the furtherrotation-interrupting engagementof saidsafety lugs with said stops.

7'. In"a-'elosure-device 'of the character described; a

filler neck 'or the like having a fluid 'passage'and annular seat means,and also havinglaterally projecting connecting portionsincluding'circumferentially extending and ,circ'umferentially spacedaxially sloping locking cams and rotation-arresting safety stopsadjacent the unlocking ends *of said cams; said connecting portionshaving notch means therein between the unlocking ends of said. cams andthe :associated stops; a cap on said neck in detachable cooperationtherewith comprising a cap body rotatable relative to the neck inlocking and unlocking directions, and

transverse means for sealing co-operation with said seat means forclosing the neck passage; circumferentially spaced locking lugs on saidbody and co-operable with said cams during the locking and unlockingrotation of 'the body; said locking lugs being normally engageable withsaid stops during unlocking rotation of said body for interrupting saidunlocking rotation, and said locking lugs being also normally engageablein said notch means for a limited pressure-relieving axial separation ofsaid transverse means from said seat means; and safety lugs on said bodyadjacent said locking lugs but spaced axially and circumferentially fromthe latter; the axial spacing of said safety lugs from said locking lugsbeing in an inward direction along the neck passage, and thecircumferential spacing being on the trailing side of said locking lugswith respect to the unlocking rotation of said body; said safety lugsextending beneath said connecting portions and being engageable withsaid stops for further interrupting said unlocking rotation of saidbody; said safety lugs being also engageable in said notch means fortemporarily limiting lift-off or blow-off axial movement of the caprelative to said neck; the axial spacing of said safety lugs from saidlocking lugs being a sufiicient distance to permit movement of saidlocking lugs beneath and past said stops in response to furtherunlocking rotation of said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,887,700 Stevens Nov. 15, 1932 2,623,657 Vries 'Dec. 30, 1952 2,627,997Wittenberg Feb. 10, 1953 2,679,946 'Friend June 1, 1954

